This year's 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and today's escalating tension between North Korea and the world, serve as timely backdrops for the recent awarding of Korea's Ambassador for Peace Medal to Tsawwassen veteran Gerard Reitsma.
It has been nearly 70 years since the North invaded the South on the Korean Peninsula. Today, the Republic of Korea continues to honour its allies'soldiers through the Ambassador for Peace Medal in recognition of the contributions and sacrifices made by Canadians who served in the Korean War.
Reitsma received the medal for his service with the Royal Canadian Navy in Korea from 1951 through 1953. He was presented the honour through a proclamation and letter at Tsawwassen's KinVillage Care Home last Tuesday.
"This sure is a great honour," said Reitsma as the medal was placed around his neck by his son, Raymond Reitsma.
"This medal is a reminder of a war in the past," he said. "It also reminds us that today's leaders have an important responsibility to work towards a truly peaceful world."
Reitsma, who turns 86 on May 30, served aboard the HMCS Cayuga, a tribal-class destroyer that was one of 260 naval vessels deployed to South Korea by allied forces when the Korean War broke out.
In a letter presented to Reitsma, Daeshik Jo, South Korea's ambassador to Canada, stated: "We Koreans have never forgotten the legacy of the 27,000 Canadians who fought shoulder to shoulder with us, and the brave 516 who made ultimate sacrifice... Thanks to you, Korea has been able to flourish as a democratic and prosperous nation."
"We were very pleased to hear that one of our members has been given this award," added Bill Belsey, secretary of the Tsawwassen Legion.
